Forward-Focused Flex

Forward-Focused Flex

Hickok Cole Headquarters

In a building with personality, character, and soul, our new HQ celebrates history while looking optimistically toward the future. Now home to 100+ creative, purpose-driven designers, the historic Press House begins its next chapter as a place where vision comes to life. With our process on display and values on our sleeve, we welcome our team back into the workplace with a bold, flexible environment designed to inspire work that matters in our backyard and beyond.

Located in the heart of DC’s thriving Union Market District, our new 26,000-SF space in the historic Press House building is the ideal location for our next chapter—and the inspiration behind many elements in the new design. Original mushroom columns painted the mint-green of vintage printing machinery lend a sophisticated charm while preserved 30-foot-tall saw-tooth monitor skylights provide an abundance of natural light. Art deco tiles, custom booth seating, and orb lighting channel the building’s 1930s origin.

Consolidating our studio into a single collaborative floor was key in our hunt for new real estate. But our experience with COVID-19 taught us that togetherness can take many forms, and so can collaboration. The resulting design is one that serves and unites us in a way that our former four-story space could not—taking ever-changing technologies, personal preferences, and a wide range of working styles into account for the ultimate agile workspace.

Amenities abound with various private meeting rooms, pin-up space for each team, dedicated collaboration spaces, a flexible hospitality floor, a full model shop, and a light-filled materials library. Health-focused amenities include a wellness suite with cold storage, shower and locker space, secure bike storage, and a 1,000-SF private patio.

Art is core to our work and culture, and we celebrate it with a design that puts our long-standing commitment to the creative community front and center. The result is a space that nods to NoMa’s robust public art program while accommodating our eclectic personal collection and annual Art Night event. A custom mural provides a vibrant first impression and a distinct color palette for furniture, fabrics, and patterns used throughout. A museum-quality hanging and lighting system transforms wall space into gallery space without damaging walls. A blend of natural and industrial materials provides a neutral canvas for artwork and project work on display.

As the design team behind spaces for some of the area’s leading organizations, our move presented an opportunity to lead by example and adopt the design principles we champion. From high-performance design to employee wellness, collaboration to community, our design represents our mission in action—forward-focused, inclusive, and full of heart.

Exterior signage incorporates black metal framing to tie into the building’s industrial elements, while white acrylic letters push through as a nod to the future. Street presence is strengthened by the addition of color-changing LEDs that highlight the building’s architectural features while adding a fun new vibe to our signature events.

Location

301 N Street NE, Suite 301
Washington, DC 20002

Client

Hickok Cole

Partners

GC: DAVIS Construction
MEP: Bowman
Structural: SK&A
LEED: Above Green
Work Stations: Officeworks
Photographer: Garrett Rowland

Size

26,000 SF

Expertise

Workplace

Sustainability

LEED Gold